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What is it about the IPL that turns everyone into cricket fans for 2 months?
April 18, 2008. It was the first day of my college finals. The first of four papers of my last undergraduate exam. But yours truly had other things on his mind. Something was coming. Something that would change the game that India called religion, forever.
I was still over four months shy of turning 22. Life was uncertain and in times of uncertainty, I have, on occasion, taken comfort in what many call my first love. Yes, I speak of cricket, the religion that unites India like no other event.
So where was my mind that day as I sat down for the exam? It was miles away from the eastern city of Kolkata, in the southern city of Bengaluru. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) would be facing off in the first ever game of the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League or IPL — a cash-rich T20 league where the best of the best would form alliances and wage battles.
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My exam ended at four in the evening. Fifteen minutes later we were allowed to leave the hall. I rushed home via taxi. It took me over two hours and it was half past six when I reached. The game was at eight. By quarter to eight I was in front of the TV and ready for action. So was my mother, since her all-time favourite Sourav Ganguly was captaining KKR.
Well, the day ended happily for us as KKR crushed RCB by 140 runs and Brendon McCullum slammed 158 not out. It remained the highest individual score in IPL history till Chris Gayle’s 175 not out for RCB vs PWI (Pune Warriors India) in 2013.
Now you may ask, why so much build up? Why did I just use five paras to talk about the first-ever IPL game. Well, the reason is, not just me, but many people across India and abroad got hooked to IPL since that first game.
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In the coming seasons, the craze only went up. The celebrities bought their stakes in teams as well. It added more spice to the flavour of IPL. Shah Rukh Khan was KKR’s owner and I could not be happier. My favourite Bollywood actor owns the team representing my city. What could be better?
Be it endorsements or promotions, it was a festival in its own way! Remember the first ever jingle made on it? And what about the ‘Manoranjan ka baap’ commercial that first got people interested in what the IPL was. Team songs featuring the likes of SRK, Hrithik Roshan, Shilpa Shetty and Farah Khan added more flavour to this cricket carnival.
Fast forward to 2024, the 17th edition of the IPL is about to start. Come March 22, 10 teams (two more than the original eight) will be battling it out for a chance to take the trophy home. My own craze with the tournament over the years has died down. Maybe sports journalism made me dispassionate, who knows? Be that as it may, I have noticed a pattern over the last decade or so and am seeing it now again.
People I know and many I do not know are all of a sudden cricket fans. They do not follow the game otherwise, even when India plays, except maybe the World Cup. But out of the blue their love for the game goes up.
So what is it about the IPL that makes the public turn into worshippers of the sport for those two months?
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The reason can be found rooted in nostalgia. When the IPL began the craze reached peak level. Not only were we going to see famous names from all over the world, we would see opponents on the same side and teammates facing off. Imagine Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly leading their teams against each other? Having seen them play together for over a decade, this was something new.
Of course, the Bollywood angle too has a role to play. The entertainment factor goes up and almost consumes the game itself. In fact, many people watch IPL for entertainment purposes and not for the love of the game. In fact, true cricket lovers, myself included, don’t rate it too high when it comes to quality of cricket.
However, that does not mean you can get away by being a substandard player in the IPL. If one sees the names topping the charts in the stats, they are all players who have done well at international level. So, skill is needed as it is not a walk in the park.
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I will be honest. My enthusiasm for the IPL is more for entertainment. If it’s cricket I want to watch I will see a Test between England and Australia or India and Australia. The IPL is like fast food, made quickly and offers nourishment for a short period of time. Well, that I can do without.
But back to the matter at hand. People of my generation are more concerned about their Dream XI teams where they can make some money based on which player does well. For the older generation, it is more about something to watch on TV in the evening. Case in point, my mom. While she does follow cricket, she will never watch an India match with the same sincerity that she watches KKR play. On this occasion, the city of birth trumps the motherland.
We are less than a week away from the opening game. CSK and RCB will be starting the proceedings. There is already speculation that IPL 2024 is Dhoni’s last. It adds more fuel to the fire of IPL in the hearts of fans. Not long term cricket fans mind you, just the ones that convert during these two months.
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My friend who does not watch cricket at all actually asked me if I could get passes for DC games being played in Delhi. That is how high the craze level is. So many individuals have put weekend plans on hold so that they can enjoy double headers. Two games back to back daily on the weekend is pretty much a sorted scene for a fan of entertainment.
There’s just something about the IPL. At the end of the day it is a carnival of two months that sees fans loyal to 10 teams support their players. For the neutrals, it is a time to enjoy some crazy cricket as the T20 format is known to be the most unpredictable.
Yours truly will follow the IPL as it is part of his job description in being a sports writer. But if I get entertained, I have no complaints. After all, as mentioned earlier, I am not watching it for cricket.
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It is best not to overthink. The IPL is here to stay and has been responsible for producing several talents, especially in the shortest format. So why not enjoy it? If its purpose is to keep us engaged, then it has served its purpose well.
So sit back, relax, get the snacks and drinks ready and prepare to be entertained for two months. The countdown has started.
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